Understanding Why Your Home Isn’t Cooling Properly

Warm summer weather is here again, and if you’re like many of the households across the U.S., chances are you’ve already started running your central air conditioning system. If you’re lucky, your AC will run just fine throughout the entire season. However, many Americans will face AC problems to some degree or another. Below are some of the most common issues and what’s likely causing them.

Home AC Troubleshooting

Your air conditioner continues to run even when rooms are cool enough, resulting in your home becoming too cold.

The issue here could very well have to do with the thermostat. If your thermostat is programmable, a factory reset could do the trick. If the AC still seems to be running too often, consider investing in a more energy efficient thermostat. Other issues that could be causing this: low refrigerant, an AC system that’s too small, a buildup on the condenser coils, or a dirty evaporator coil.

Unusual noises are coming from your HVAC system.

Strange noises coming from the AC can indicate a number of things: If you hear hissing, it’s probable that refrigerant is leaking from the compressor. If you hear what sounds like clicking, the thermostat could be having issues. And if you hear buzzing, the system could have a loose part or a failing connection.

Water is leaking from your air conditioner and into the home.

The cause of this is usually a clogged condensate drain line. Pouring bleach into the drain line opening can help clear up any mildew or algae that may be obstructing the pipe.

Your air conditioner is pushing out air, but it’s not cold.

The most common reason is a system that’s low on refrigerant or Freon. Other problems can include a dirty evaporator coil or problems with the outside AC unit.

The fan outside isn’t working.

The most common culprit is usually a bad contactor — the part that allows electricity to flow from the unit to the rest of the system. Other causes can include: issues with the capacitor, a broken belt, a clogged air filter, or a bad fan motor.

Frozen copper Lines

Frozen copper lines usually means you’re low on refrigerant and a possible leak.

When it comes to AC problems in your home, repairs are best left to the professionals. Contact the experts at Sedgwick today for help. Also remember to have your HVAC system inspected annually to avoid more costly problems down the line.